Coaster reviews

First Drop Location Intensity Too short

This was my first dive coaster...what a thrill. I sat in the third row which definitely reduced the fear factor hanging over the edge of the first drop, but I'll admit it, I was scared nonetheless. The first drop is unbelievable and the Immelmann maneuver coming out of the first hill was also pretty special. Everything after this (aka drop #2) was a more sedated version of seemingly the same thing, but for me, this ride still provided an amazing experience. Great views and placement within the park further enhanced the experience. I know there are a lot of people out there that think the format is tired, but 200+ ft at a 90 degree angle and 70 mph is still a remarkable coaster experience. You just can't convince me otherwise. Griffon was like a home run hitter calling their shot...you knew what was coming and it still delivered.

Launch Intensity

Kind of fun, but this ride felt like a missed opportunity to me. Good family coaster and intro to launch rides for younger riders, but nothing more...I would have tolerated a little bit more light for a lot more intensity.

First Drop Harness Intensity Intensity

My first Giga ride after standing next to two others...I got rained out at Millennium Force and Fury was down when I visited Carowinds. I don't know how the others rate and while I hope to find out some day, I can't imagine anything as intense as the first drop and turn on Intimidator305. The first hill might be the top roller coaster moment of all time for me. A rush unlike anything I've ever experienced. As far as the rest of the ride goes, it was pretty enjoyable if not tame by comparison. The hard turns were much smoother than I expected. In fact, the overall ride was much smoother than I expected. I was also grateful for the shoulder harnasses which lent a balance of comfort and security AND the pace of the first hill climb. They don't give you a chance to let your anxiety build too much as the first lift hill hauls...an act of kindness, I must say. I love the Intamin innovations on other coasters and RMC has the midas touch with just about everything it puts out these days...but while they may be less fashionable at the moment and the intensity will be too much for some, I really hope we get more Giga's like I305. Big, fast and scary never goes out of style.

Launch Fun Masterpiece

Wow! I thought this ride would be really good, but it was beyond my expectations. The scale of it did not really hit me until I was standing next to it. It's bigger and faster than Velocicoaster and has more ingenuity and tricks up it's sleeve as well. I still rate Velocicoaster higher as Pantheon lacks something along the lines of personality. But let's not split hairs. This is a fantastic ride. The first inversion/zero G winder is just a mean, tease leading up to a combination that I can only see being outdone by the Top Thrill Dragster reboot. If you are in the front, the first hill stall is wild and the skip/ejector hill during the backward launch is just devious...but there's no hiding in the back seats either as you get the full effect of the backward hill stall. And while these first half elements make the headlines, the second half is nothing to sneeze at. There's still something missing in Pantheon I can't put my finger on (again, let's just say personality for now.) But this is a remarkable and innovative Intamin ride nonetheless and a top 10 for me.

First Drop Lap Bar Inversions Too short

A fun little ride that is worth checking out (but not worth waiting in line.) The first climb and drop look more devious than they actually turn out to be...but they are fun and that modest degree of fun persists throughout the ride with a couple of inversions and a corkscrew at the end. it's a smaller version of Universal's Rip Ride Rocket and lacks the intensity of that ride. But it'll get the heart rate up a bit just going up the first 90 degree climb and while it's not a true daredevil's coaster, it has a nice intensity for younger riders.

Inversions Nice surprise! Fun Headbanging Discomfort

Blue Hawk was not awful...in fact, it was moderately enjoyable. It's not going to draw record crowds or bring people in from other parts of the county, but it was a serviceable ride that was much better than it's reputation made it out to be. I dare say I liked it...

Theming Disappointing! Discomfort

As much as I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed Batman - the Ride clone at SFOG, I DID NOT LIKE Superman - Ultimate Flight. The line was longer than it needed to be and the sun was beating down pretty hard on me and my party prior to riding. I only share this detail as it likely impacted my mood and appetite for a flying coaster clone. I suppose the ride was exactly what I thought it would be, and while I'm glad I went on it and can check it off my list, I don't need to ever go on it again...and I won't.

Inversions Nice surprise! Smoothness

I know this is a clone. I know it's not as big, long or fast as Raptor, Afterburn, Alpengeist, Banshee, etc. i know it's been around for over 25 years and it's hey-day is behind it. But this ride still packs a punch with notable g-forces felt, tremendous whip and a sense of speed and intensity that is on par with its contemporaries despite its smaller stature. The ride also completely unlocked my 9 year-old daughter's "roller coaster chi." She bailed on Twisted Cyclone earlier in the day and had been back-peddling from coasters a bit over the past 6 months, but after Batman - The Ride, she wanted to go on EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE PARK. And we did - including Twisted Cyclone and Goliath. The ride is a great rush for enthusiasts with multiple elements that still pack a "POW!" Additionally (and why I like this ride the most), the ride is accessible and confidence building for up-and-coming enthusiasts like my daughter. We went on it 3x together...and fellow friends and dads joined us. It was a solid ride, a great shared experience...and for my daughter, the first of many more.

Theming Fun Duration Intensity

This is a really, really great Disney ride. I just wouldn't call it a really great roller coaster. It is among the most enjoyable and exciting experiences you'll find on a Disney property, but I find it far less intense than even The Mummy at Universal. I went on it only 3 months ago and I'm having difficulty recalling all the elements - it's not necessarily forgettable, but it lacks the POW! factor that I am personally looking for in a coaster. I think I've always been puzzled why Disney hasn't just let it rip on 1-2 rides over the years...and I think I've subconsciously held this against the parks since my first visit at 13 years-old (which is too old for a first visit.) I recognize the need to appeal to a broader, younger, family-audience, but Universal manages to do this AND include something like the Velocicoaster. Give me one ride with a 100 ft+ drop Disney! But back to the ride itself...it breathes some really necessary life into Epcot. It has some really strong, modern elements...and the theming/music that everyone raves about really is top notch. A great experience, just not a great coaster.

Airtimes Capacity Fun Disappointing!

To say this ride is disappointing has more to do with the high expectations I had in my head vs the actual experience. I was intimidated by this ride the first time I saw it and used my daughter's size (she was only "52 last year) as an excuse to duck it. When we went back to SFOG this year I knew I had to give it a shot. It just looked so big compared to everything else at the park. When I finally got the courage up to ride it, I found Goliath to be remarkably tame. It's a "big-boy" as my daughter likes to say, but not on a giga-coaster scale and while the speed was great, I think the absence of a truly steep drop left me longing for more. It is a really strong ride nonetheless. Good size, speed with some nice ejectors and airtime throughout a seemingly long ride (which I found to be a good thing.) It's almost the exact opposite of the Twisted Cyclone which packs more of a punch into a much smaller frame. In that way, the two complement each other very well as the premiere coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Location

This ride conveniently occupied by wife and daughter while I rode some of the bigs. It was an unremarkable hanging coaster that felt like it could be sold at a flea market. There was some aura of nostalgia for my wife who rode it as a teenager and my daughter liked it enough. But to me, this was a poor, past-its-prime version of the Big Bad Wolf...and I never loved that ride either.

Theming Nice surprise! Launch

I've been on this 3 times over the past 2 years and it has been an absolute joy each time. My daughter rode this with me each time and through the eyes of a 7-8 year-old, there is nothing better than Hagrid's. The launches are perfectly placed and add a wicked kick throughout a wonderfully themed ride. Really can't say enough about the theming...it is fantastic. While there are bigger and scarier rides out there (Velocicoaster is a short walk away for example), this significantly overdelivered on my initial expectations and continues to deliver every time.

Theming Nice surprise! Fun Intensity

This is as close to an intense coaster as Disney has to offer in my opinion. It comes so close to getting it all right, but alas...it falls just a bit short. With that said, the theming, the backward/roll element and the hill (big for Disney) make this pretty fun. My daughter went on it comfortably at age 7 and loved it. I enjoyed it too.

Theming Location Intensity

This is a great starter ride for 3, 4 and 5 year-olds...my daughter's first "coaster" at age 4. We've been on it over the years a few times. Her last ride was at age 8 and she still really liked it.

First Drop Inversions Fun Headbanging Discomfort

While a classic in its own right, this ride lacks the intensity of most modern loopers and comes with the grumpiness and discomfort you'd expect from a 45 year-old steel coaster.. With that said, it's certainly not a baby coaster and it remains a really good ride. It was my daughter's first looper and will always have a special place in our heart as a result. She was scared right up to the first loop...however, sighs and cries over the course of the ride quickly gave way to "let's do it again!" The tell-tale sign of a great experience. If you're at Six Flags Over Georgia, you really must give it a shot. It's not in the same league as Twisted Cyclone and not on the same scale as Goliath, but it shows well and gives a nostalgic nod to the past with a fair amount of adrenaline released along the way.

Nice surprise! Location Smoothness Too short Reliability

The Joker Funhouse coaster was a nice little surprise that gives families an approachable option to get future enthusiasts comfortable with a coaster while still providing a little bit of a thrill for parents along the way. The location is dead center of SFOG so its nicely situated and gives a lot of next ride options as a result. It seems to be down a lot and for days/weeks at a time so I wouldn't count on it as I would other rides at the park. Another con is the single car, short track which is unfortunately a formula ripe for longer lines than the experience justifies. But while I entered skeptical, I felt and saw a value in this coaster beyond my expectations...and those with younger kids are sure to appreciate it for the same reasons.

Location Smoothness Layout Disappointing!

I went on this a bunch as a kid. The name and concept created a tremendous aura of suspense and intrigue. But I always found the experience to be a tad underwhelming. It was my first hanging coaster and it had some really cool and fun moments...but when riding it, I always felt like it was holding back from what could have been a truly remarkable coaster, ahead of its time. Good not great was always my review, despite the fond nostalgia I maintain for it.

Inversions

Went on this in its early days as The Sidewinder. A classic boomerang that I remember more for the lines than the experience. It gave Hershey a little more pop in its lineup, but I felt the park could've gone bigger at the time and still trailed SFGA and Busch Gardens by a notable margin as a result. It appears Hersheypark has significantly closed the gap in recent years which is too bad for my childhood, but something I hope to take advantage of on a future visit home.

First Drop Nice surprise! Fun

This is the world's best family-coaster in my view...or at least, the best I've experienced. If you took the tingling sensations of your typical amusement park swings added a dash of extra intensity and turned it into a roller-coaster...you'd have Dragonflier. Quite a pleasant surprise, and so long as the lines can be avoided, it's a ride you can go on again and again.

Nice surprise! Fun

This was my first stand-up in 20 years...I found it to be pretty enjoyable. Good hills, twists, turns and inversions, but nothing to write home about. I was a bit nauseous after exiting, but recovered quickly (and went back on Twisted Cyclone.) I wouldn't go out of my way to ride it again, but it serves its purpose and my daughter could probably talk me into another ride if she would join me.

Airtimes First Drop Duration

A staple of my childhood, The Comet has always been a steady performer and enjoyable experience for me. It was just a bit too small to get me really excited, but just big enough to get me to stand in line to give it a go a few times a summer. It was reasonably comfortable for an old, wooden. And it the first hill combined with the formidable length and the closing bunny hills all added up to a good ride from start to finish. It's allure began to fade for me as we made trips to Dorney (Hercules), Six Flags Great Adventure, Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion over the years. But it'll always hold a place in my heart as a solid coaster experience.

Nice surprise!

This was a really nice surprise and a wonderful family coaster experience. It's relatively smooth, has some modest launch elements that get the tingles and heart-rate going just enough to be entertaining...and while it won't rank with my Steel Vengeance and Velocicoaster experiences, it truly is a lovely ride with great theming that is accessible to a wide range or riders. My wife and daughter both loved it too!

Inversions Nice surprise! Smoothness Too short

It's not often you'll see smoothness as a main pro for an older steel Arrow coaster, but this ride was remarkably smooth and quite efficient in creating some unexpected thrills and fun. The one notable downside is that it's over before you know it, but it certainly grabs your attention for the limited time it has you. The ride is easily overlooked in a park filled with newer, more interesting concepts, but this ride delivered above expectation for me. If the wait isn't too long, it's definitely worth giving a shot.

Theming Launch Smoothness Capacity

This was a treat for a Disney coaster...it didn't significantly change my heart-rate, but it was a really unique ride with a nice shot of adrenaline out of the gates and a cool experience onward from there. Great theming, location and visuals surround this ride. I'm not sure how much allure the TRON franchise has left in it so it felt an odd choice to bring to life, but as a launch coaster, it works. Not surprisingly, it was really hard to get on it, but we made the last queue of the day and ended up enjoying Magic Kingdom in a way we had not previously considered while we waited (gave us a chance to see fireworks, sit down for dinner, etc.) My wife and daughter went on it with me - they both loved it. From my daughter's pov (she's 9): "I really liked the speed. The scenery was cool and made me feel like I was in the game especially as we went back inside and the special effects kicked in. The drops were fun because you couldn't always see where you were going. The design of the seats/cars was also very cool - unlike anything I've done before."

First Drop Inversions Fun Capacity

This was a truly unique riding experience for me...I generally liked it and found it quite exhilarating and innovative. Its how I imagine a ride would represent a drunk superman flight. I would've rated it higher, but for the 60 minute wait on a day when nothing else was more than 5 minutes - which indicates a very fixable challenge. And, while the experience was unique, the heat coupled with the odd ride positioning, seating angle and blind views left me a bit queasy for a good 30 minutes after my ride. It was the only coaster I didn't go back for seconds on at Carowinds. Nonetheless, I'm glad I got on it at least once as rumors have begun to swirl about its future (can the end be that far behind Firehawk's?)

Inversions Launch Hangtime Rattle

Copperhead Strike was good, not great for me, but I could see how it would be great for others. This comes down to personal taste and preference. I think the coaster delivers everything it was designed to do. The jojo roll was a really nice touch on the front end...sadly, it picked my pocket during my second ride (my favorite $2 sunglasses were lost.) Both launches are solid and the hangtimes are great throughout the ride - albeit, hangtimes are not a component on coasters I necessarily love. There's a hard whip about two-thirds into the ride that I really felt (and liked), but from that point through to the finish I found the ride less enjoyable. I just did't love all the herky-jerky twists and turns piled on at the end. This ride reminded me a lot of Maverick after it's first launch and drop...lots of disorienting twists and turns that left me a bit dizzy. I rode 2x, once in the front seat, once in the back - I found the back to be the better ride despite a rattle that was more evident from this position. My seat security was on my mind throughout both rides, which added to the thrill more than I would have liked. There's a lot packed into this ride...and not all of it was for me, but again, I could see how this ride would be a favorite for others. It's certainly a great effort from Mack and a nice contrast to the other coasters at Carowinds.

Airtimes First Drop Ejectors Dead spots

I loved this ride. It was everything I was hoping Goliath SFOG would be, just a 3-hour longer drive to get on it. It is big and fast! I rode it twice - once towards the front, once in the back and there was a notable benefit to sitting in the back - as one might expect with a train this long with hills and speeds this high. Fantastic first drop, great whip from the back seat through the many floaters throughout the ride. A single dead spot that is so far into the ride, I considered everything at that point gravy. Good theming, great length and a really nice layout with views of the park and the surrounding Carolinas. I suspect Intimidator is underestimated and/or under-appreciated because it falls in the shadow of a bigger coaster at the same park (Fury) and a bigger coaster with the same name (Intimidator 305). But it's a top 10 for me and kept my day at Carowinds lively with Fury out of action.

Theming Location Intensity

This, like many Disney "coasters" I've rated, is more an experience than a coaster - so it's almost impossible to rate alongside proper coasters. I enjoyed the ride quite a bit and more than Forbidden Journey. It is the perfect fit for the Harry Potter world created at Universal. The concept, storyline and ride itself are all fun. The theming is absolutely fantastic...as good as any ride I've encountered. But without hills, launches, twists or turns of consequence, it can only get up to three stars from me.

Smoothness Disappointing!

The name Trailblazer always suggested something more intense in my mind, but alas, this is not an intense coaster. With that said, it is a serviceable family coaster that is a great starter ride for young, aspiring coaster enthusiasts. It's so tame, even my mom would go on it...and so it gets an extra half point from me just for that.

Theming Location Fun Discomfort

A really nice family coaster and a nice way to start the day and warm-up the coaster muscles. It has just enough thrill to add some tingles throughout the experience. Fast Pass lines move quickly (more so than most rides at Universal.) We've been on this ride a dozen times and never experienced the waits others have noted. (From my daughter, Ashley) - She would give it 3 stars. Her thoughts: Me and my family enjoyed it .The theming was a fun and exciting part of the ride.The first drop was a thrilling part of the ride and overall it was just really fun!